Three dozen horsepower never looked so good. The show-winning 1956 Volkswagen Beetle Ragtop for sale on eBay plays the restomod card like a champ. The numbers-matching drivetrain is relatively stock. The cosmetics are an entirely different story.
If you’re looking for shiny traditional trim, you’ve come to the wrong place. This stunning Cement Gray Beetle restomod relies heavily on Cerakote, a thin-film ceramic coating to black out and dull the trim.
If you’ve never seen Cerakote before, you’re not alone. The product is uncommon in the automotive scene. But it’s the most popular coating among firearm manufacturers. The restoration uses extensive black oxidized and powder coat finishes, as well.
The seller states:
Every single screw, nut, and bolt has been replaced or restored.
The Elegance of Simplicity
The interior is spartan yet spectacular. Country Auto Upholstery, based in Glendale, Ariz., wrapped the seats and console in a bright shade of saddle brown with matte black insets. It’s an unexpected color combination that contrasts beautifully with the gray paintwork. The leather wrapping the custom center console has a matching orange hue.
The original speedometer and batwing steering wheel have undergone a complete restoration, while a brand-new Triple Black Mamba shifter rows the four-speed manual transmission’s gears.
This asphalt-scraping critter sits so low to the ground that it looks more like a snail than a bug. Flick the switches, and it rises up, ready to crawl.
The air suspension system is comprehensive, courtesy of Arizona-based customizers. A Pandraggers Air Beam is complemented by a full custom Rear Air Ride from Nick Metal Works. Filardi Fabrication provided the custom rear deck and rack, featuring a floating tank, air management, and the billet switches on the console.
Custom 17-inch smoothies with Cerakoted big logo hubcaps enhance the stance. A rare Japanese VW hubcap adorns the spare tire.
To Mod or Not to Mod, That’s the Question
The lucky buyer that lands this beauty will probably want to invest in a lift for the garage. With a scant 600 miles since restoration, the ragtop has a squeaky clean underbelly.
You can do anything you want to a Type 1 Beetle without too much fear of harming an unreplaceable example. Volkswagen factories churned out more than 21.5 million of the noisy little beasts over the years. Beetles are ubiquitous and highly affordable. Parts are simple to find, especially on eBay Motors.
The Cement Gray Snail was featured in AirMighty Magazine, Issue #42.
But the 1956 Cabriolet had a tight run. Hagerty states that Volkswagen produced 326,428 Bugs of the sedan variety. But how many Cabriolets rolled off the line? Just 6,762.
A straightforward Type 1 restoration is relatively easy to achieve. However, building a wicked cool, one-of-kind restomod can be a gamble. Sometimes it pays off.
